politics

Abe's support dips to lowest level: polls

36 Comments
By Vesa Moilanen

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Voter support for Abe's cabinet dropped five percentage points in just a week to 33 percent according to the latest poll of more than 2,000 voters by the liberal Asahi Shimbun, marking the lowest level since he took office more than four years ago.

Which means that the conservative Yomuri will probably have him closer to 40% or higher.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Which means that the conservative Yomuri will probably have him closer to 40% or higher.

36%. as stated in the article.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

So two time failure. At least Aso made some stupid remarks that were actually quite funny.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

His time is drawing near. Lets hope the whole LDP is shelved during the next election.

14 ( +15 / -1 )

If you think by changing a leader your life becomes easy and Japan becomes a paradise. That is a wishful thinking. You will have the same feelings about the would-be new leader and start criticize.

-9 ( +3 / -12 )

It came a few months after Abe was forced to deny connections

Forced by who?

Either he told the truth or lied by denying his connection, how can someone force the PM and head of ruling party with such pride and majority in both houses.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

If you think by changing a leader your life becomes easy and Japan becomes a paradise.

I don't think that anybody has every claimed that on these forums.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Good but not low enough. Hoping for a continuation of this trend.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Hopefully this will put a scare into the LDP and will get them to back off with heir pledge to revise the constitution. I also think that Abe's Aragon was and heavy handed tactics to get the terrorism bill passed really rubbed many people the wrong way.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

NK false flag coming soon to a tv screen near you.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

We are expecting a perfect man to our leader. Polls reflect it. It is irresponsible. Politicians are judged by results and have to take responsibility while poll voters are ephemeral.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

We are expecting a perfect man to our leader. Polls reflect it. It is irresponsible.

How is it irresponsible to expect, nay, demand accountability, transparency and honesty from one's leaders?

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Wallace Fred,

NK false flag coming soon to a tv screen near you.

Considering who his "advisers" are and that for those people, warz meanz votez, I have a feeling you may be right!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Yeah, I admit that Abe is a pea-brained loser, but his next in line, Aso is even worse and the opposition party has nobody strong to represent them nor have they ever made any alternative plans to Abe's failed ones. Even if the LDP is ousted, there is nothing to say the opposition would do any better.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Winning fewer seats in a local election poll like Tokyo Assembly , has hardly affected PM Abe's rating in international political field. He is doing excellent work for Japan .His rating will again soar after his September visit to India.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Except for a couple of blips here and there, Japan is a one party state and has little in legitimate opposition. Low polls mean change but nothing meaningful

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Can we simply FORCE Junichiro Koizumi back into the office? I mean, his son is a great actor. I am still waiting for his next roles. And the father? Awesome. Just awesome, I am telling you. Just get him back in the office. Letting him stop being a premier was a big mistake, probably the biggest mistake in the post-war history of Japanese premier system.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@Daniel Naumoff - Can we simply FORCE Junichiro Koizumi back into the office?

Yeah, I agree! He was the greatest leader Japan has seen in the last century. Plus, he has charisma and awesome hair! However, he fell out of favor due to his labor reforms. He set up these semi-permanent employment contracts, which were popular with employers, but not employees. However, it was when he started on reducing the 'fat cat's' salaries and bonuses he was ousted. If his labor reforms were allowed to run full circle it would have closed the class gap in Japan and gone a long way to stabilising the economy and, even promoting growth. As a result of his ousting, the successive government kept the semi-permanent employment contracts, but didn't introduce the bonus and salary cuts for the fat cats. Now, here we are, a decade later, with no economic growth and the poor are getting poorer while the corporations pocket their tax cuts. Bring back the silver lion!

4 ( +4 / -0 )

However, it was when he started on reducing the 'fat cat's' salaries and bonuses he was ousted.

Which is why, sadly, you won't see the likes of him again.

Start bringing the fat cats to heel and it doesn't bode well for the best intentions. On the other hand; keep the lesser mortals in their place and all is good.

Wonderful. Or is that woeful?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

"As to recent falls in public support, we take them seriously as the people's voice, as the prime minister has said,"

Yup, as he's said and done absolutely nothing but follow his own agenda, and pay for and protect his friends. Had he done anything about it, there would be none of this "as he has said," but, "as he has done".

1 ( +2 / -1 )

B.l. SharmaToday  07:26 pm JST

Winning fewer seats in a local election poll like Tokyo Assembly , has hardly affected PM Abe's rating in international political field.

However he's rated in the international political field is of no consequence. The Japanese public doesn't care.

He is doing excellent work for Japan .His rating will again soar after his September visit to India.

He just got back from the G20 meeting and it's plummeted.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

He just returned from Europe.  Wait a new pole.  For local for him,  rely polls in Yamaguchi Prefecture.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

LDP is an inventing machine that created Abe PM, Abenomics, changing programs on Japan constitution and those scandals that just started and going further. But new machines should be renovated, renewed or well-repaired. Now going to scrap with all those stuffs of more issues out-of-control. The world is changing as he said, and people are changing thinking his concept has no brain anymore, out-of-order!?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

So what?

Just doing a simple search on Google I found articles chronicling the "end" of the LDP:

1993 from The Independent (UK) - LDP rule set to end in Japan.

2009 from The Economist - End of the line for the LDP.

2012 from JapanTimes - LDP returns with all its old baggage.

My point is, the LDP has been so bad that another party came and ruled but then that party was also so bad that the LDP came back into power and so on and so on and so on.

So go ahead and replace Abe with another LDP clone and don't bring up Koike, cuz if Abe pulled the same stunt with Tsukiji he'd be crucified. And Renho's party doesn't have nearly the support.

Who or where is this savior for Japanese politics?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Sooner or later, Japanese people will realize Abe visitation of Europe countries enabled Japan tobe recognized as equivalent with them.  Politicians are expected tobe direly in money and have a few mistresses  in Japan.  but this prime minister have only one wife.  Expect he will be pm a few years.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

OMG, you can't even get a F grade with that percentage. Never mind, no shame. Abe will continue boasting his value being voted as a leader of Japawn. If a wife finds a husband a cheater, she could divorce him in one minute after marriage. But Japanese people have to stuck with Abe no matter what. That is the beauty of being elected.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If only an average of all national polls showing below 50% could trigger an automatic no confidence vote by the electorate. Then the parties, MPs, and cabinet would listen more carefully to the will of the people.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Russia and China omitted Japan and requested USA and S Korea to. work together for N Korea situation.  Then Russia, S K and Japan had chances to talk.  Suddenly shrewd former KGB operator stopped ignoring Japan.  Russia may realize Abe may be the best chance for preventing Kim shooting missile to Russia or thinking Japan has own missile system using MOX.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Keep on falling until there's no turning back;) Maybe falling suits Abe better than ascending towards immortality within Japanese politics by amending the constitution and reach Katsura Taro's record from 1902 of 7.8 years in office?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

No leader will be popular for long when you have a rapidly aging society, decades long stagnant economy, and an astronomical debt dragging everything down. It's impossible to make the hard choices to turn things around in the long run because the options are just too painful to contemplate. So they shuffle along making big promises with no ability to make good on them. I don't know why anyone would want the job. I suppose it is nice to be able to say they were Prime Minister but they have no ability to make real positive changes.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Despite the low ratings, the Japanese people should rally behind Abe or they could be easy target for North Korea (and China) if tensions with US/Trump escalate.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

CoconutE3Today  01:39 am JST

Despite the low ratings, the Japanese people should rally behind Abe or they could be easy target for North Korea (and China) if tensions with US/Trump escalate.

Why? He's hopeless. He couldn't handle a major international crisis. In fact, there's more likely to be trouble with a sabre-rattling, nationalist dope like Abe in charge.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Simon Foston

Why? Because it's much easier to dominate and subjugate a divided nation than a united one. Can't forget that Japan, geographically is surrounded by enemies.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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